Google Meet's new AI makeup won't glitch when you drink coffee

Waking up just minutes before a video meeting without time to look presentable is a universal remote-work headache. Google Meet is finally rolling out a fix.

Details emerged about Google Meet's new AI-powered virtual makeup feature, which quietly started rolling out to web and mobile users on October 8.

12 styles that stay put when you drink coffee

You can find the feature inside the "Appearance" settings under "Portrait touch-up." While that section has offered basic skin smoothing, under-eye lightening, and eye brightening since 2023, it now adds 12 distinct makeup looks.

The real upgrade here is tracking stability. The most common pitfall of AR face filters is taking a sip of water, only to watch virtual lipstick glitch onto your coffee mug. Google says its AI keeps the makeup firmly locked to your face regardless of movement, so drinking your morning coffee won't ruin the illusion.

The filter is disabled by default, meaning you can switch it on either before joining or during a call. Once selected, Meet saves your preference so you don't have to reapply it every meeting.

Why it matters

Virtual makeup is hardly brand-new territory, as rivals like Zoom and Microsoft Teams have offered similar features for some time. Google is mostly playing catch-up here to close a nagging feature gap.

Still, we think focusing on edge cases like sipping from a mug is the right approach. AR touch-ups only work when colleagues don't immediately realize you are using a filter. If the tracking holds up as promised, it gives remote workers a genuinely convenient way to dodge camera anxiety on hectic mornings.